Nasal clamp



S. BAER NASAL CLAMP Oct. 31 1967 Filed Dec. 29, 1964 FIG. 3

FIQZ

FIGS

INVENTOR. SAMUEL BAEI? A TTORNEY. v

United States Patent 3,349,771 NASAL CLAMP Samuel Baer, 8 GeorgianCourt, Troy, N.Y. 12180 Filed Dec. 29, 1964, Ser. No. 421,892 1 Claim.(Cl. 128-325) This invention relates to nasal clamps for controllingnasal hemorrhaging and, more particularly, to a novel and improved nasalclamp characterized by case of application, effective control ofhemorrhaging, and simplicity of construction.

Nasal hemorrhaging can be a serious problem, particu-' larly when anattempt is made to stop bleeding resulting from a severe nasalhemmorrhage. Among expedients used for arresting nasal hemorrhaging arethe insertion of absorbent packing into the nose. However, this byitself is not as eflicient as could be desired. Accordingly, externalpressure must be exerted against the nose to force the areas of the noseinto tight contact with the absorbent packing.

An object of the invention is to provide a nasal clamp which may beclamped over the nose to maintain pressure on the nose and againstpacking inserted inside the nostrils to arrest nasal hemorrhaging.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a nasal clamp whichis simple and inexpensive in construction while being efficient in use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a nasal clamp which can,if necessary, be released and applied by the patient Without theassistance of a doctor, as when the patient has been to a doctors ofiicefor treatment of a hemorrhage and has left for home where thehemorrhaging may possibly re-start.

In accordance with the present invention, a novel nasal clamp isprovided, comprising a substantially flat and elongated strip ofresilient material which is bent to a U-shape to form a bight which iscircular through substantially more than 180, and substantiallyrectilinear legs extending from the ends of the bight. These legs arearranged to engage and apply pressure to the exterior of the nose, forexample at the anterior septal area. Due to the substantially circularformation of the bight of the clamp, adequate and effective resilientpressure can be applied through the legs of the clamp when the latterare placed in contact with the nose.

While the nasal clamp of the invention may be formed of many materials,a preferred material is a resilient plastic composition material. Ofsuch materials, it has been found that cellulose acetate is particularlyeffective because it has a modulus of elasticity which is sufficient toexert the required pressure, while the material is strong and tough andthus not readily damaged.

In using the clamp of the invention, packing is placed in the nostrilsand then the clamp legs are spread apart and placed over the nose sothat, when they are released, they will press firmly against theexterior of the nose to maintain firm contact of the nasal areas withthe packing. The clamp is particularly effective for hemorrhaging fromthe anterior septal area, from which arises substantially 90% of nasalhemorrhages.

For an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference ismade to the following description of typical embodiments thereof, asillustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a phantom perspective view illustrating a nasal clamp,embodying the invention, as applied to control a nasal hemorrhage;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the clamp shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a modified form of nasal clamp embodyingthe invention; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial inside elevation view of the clampillustrating a modification.

Referring to FIG. 1, one form of nasal clamp embodying the invention isillustrated at 20 as applying pressure to a patients nose 10 in whichcotton or other absorbent material has been stuffed into the nostrils toabsorb the bleeding. Clamp 20 applies pressure to the external surfaceof the nose adjacent the anterior septal area, thereby compressing theflesh of the nose against the packings 11 so that the latter willeffectively absorb bleeding from the nasal areas.

As perhaps best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the nasal clamp 20 is asubstantially flat and relatively elongated strip of resilient material,such as plastic composition material, of which cellulose acetate ispreferred. The clamp may be molded to the desired shape, which is aU-shape including a substantially circular bight 21 of which thecircular part extends through substantially more than The ends of bight21 are formed as reversely curved transition sections 22 connecting thebight to legs 25 of the U-shape clamps. These legs extend outwardly frombight 21 and converge toward each other in a direction outwardly fromthe bight when the clamp is in the released position shown in FIGS. 2and 3. As best seen in FIG. 3, the extreme ends of legs 25 are rounded,as indicated at 26, in the planes of the legs.

The substantially circular design of bight 21, which may be impartedthereto during molding of the clamp, results in an effective springpressure being exerted through the legs 25. A rather simple circulardesign of bight 21 has been found to be very advantageous as compared tomore complex spring clamp configurations. The relatively elongated andflat nature of legs 25 assures application of the pressure to the noseover relatively extended areas, thereby avoiding points of pressureconcentration.

By way of a specific example, clamp 20 may be made in two sizes, andthese two sizes have been found adequate to meet the needs of variousnasal conditions. A smaller size is provided which measures 1 /2 inwidth and 2 /2" in length, with a cross section of /8" x /2". A largersize, by which greater pressure may be exerted, has the same crosssection, but measures 2 in width and 3%" in length. Cellulose acetate ispreferred as the material from which the clamp is molded, and the clampmay be transparent or, if desired, may be opaque or colored. Celluloseacetate provides the desired modulus of elasticity for the clamp and, inaddition, is a very tough and strong synthetic resin or plasticmaterial.

FIG. 4 illustrates another form which the clamp may take in practice,this form differing somewhat from the form shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. Asillustrated in FIG. 4, the clamp 30 is provided with the bight 31 whichagain is substantially circular and whose ends are connected bytransition portions 22 to legs 35. In this case, the ends of legs 25 arenot circular, in the planes of the legs, as is the case with the clampof FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, but extend rectilinearly and have reinforcing ribs36 extending therealong. The ribs 36 make for ease of applying andremoving the nasal clamp. The clamp 30 otherwise has the same generaldimensions as does the clamp 20 and is formed of the same material asused to form the clamp 20. Application of clamp 30 is effected in thesame manner as illustrated, in FIG. 1, for clamp 20.

For both clamps, 20 and 30, the pressure against the nose is firmly andcontrollably applied to hold the nasal packing 11 firmly against thebleeding area. It has been found, in practice, that about 10 minutes ofpressure will effect control of the nasal bleeding.

In some cases, the clamp may tend to slip along the nose, asunderconditions of moisture or perspiration. To prevent such slipping and togreatly enhance the efiiciency J; of the clamp, the surfaceconfiguration shown in FIG. may be used. Referring to FIG. 5, the innersurfaces of legs 25 or 3-5, over at least the major portions of thelengths of the legs, are formed with indentations 27 arranged in arectangular grid in a manner to provide the visual effect of beingwoven.

These indentationsare in the form of V cross section grooves arranged asshort grooves aligned and spaced along mutually perpendicularcoordinates of the grid. Grooves in any one coordinate crosses over anintersecting coordinate and between the ends of longitudinal adjacentgrooves in the intersecting coordinate.

The indentations are less than 1 mm. in depth, and there are noprojections outwardly of the nose engaging surfaces of the clamp legs.Nevertheless, a very effective gripping of the nose is provided withoutany injury to the external surface of the nose.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed in detail to illustrate the application of the principles ofthe invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodiedotherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

A nasal clamp, for engaging exterior surfaces of the nose atsubstantially the anterior septal area to apply sufficient pressure onsoft cotton pack means, placed within the nostrils, to arrest nasalbleeding, said nasal clamp comprising a unitary one-piece substantiallyflat and elongated relatively wide strip or resilient plasticcomposition material having the characteristics of strength andtoughness and having a relatively high modulous of elasticity, saidstrip bent to form a substantially circular bight, having an angularextent substantially in excess of 180, and to. form straight,rectilinear and planar legs, of substantial surface area, extending fromthe ends of the bight and, in the unstressed condition of the clamp, inclosely adjacent relation and converging toward each other, outwardlyfrom the bight, at a relatively small angle; said legs being spreadableby stressing of the clamp to engage and to apply pressure oversubstantial areas of opposite exterior surfaces of the nose atsubstantially the anterior septal area of the nose; the relatively broadnose-engaging surfaces of said legs being characterized by grippingformations including relatively shallow substantially V- shaped grooves,arranged as relatively short, longitudinally aligned and longitudinallyspaced grooves along the coordinates of a substantially rectangulargrid; grooves on one coordinate crossing over an intersecting coordinateand between the ends of longitudinally adjacent grooves on theintersecting coordinate; the angular extent of said bight in cooperationwith said substantially rectilinear legs, providing for such pressure tobe exerted by the clamp with the latter oriented at different respectiveangles relative to the nose; said clamp being retained in operativeposition solely by the pressure of said engagement with the nose.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,064,986 12/1936 Mezz 128-4322,547,424 4/1951 Williams 24255 X 2,620,793 12/ 1952 Collubier 128-1322,685,880 8/1954 Curutchet 128321 2,757,665 8/1956 Tanikawa 1283 46 XRICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner.

G. E. MCNEILL, Assistant Examiner.

